Variety reported last week that Black List screenwriter Jac Schaeffer had been hired to write a Black Widow solo film for Scarlett Johansson. Yes, the same Black Widow solo film Marvel’s Kevin Feige first discussed in 2010. Marvel had no comment but here’s what Variety wrote:

Sources say this is still very early development, as the film has no greenlight, but naming a writer is the closest the studio has come to moving forward on a standalone pic. Marvel President Kevin Feige met with several candidates before tapping Schaeffer, and Marvel execs met with Johansson to discuss what they wanted from a “Black Widow” writer.

But why, though? Marvel lost any momentum they might have had (or any good graces they had with fans) on this project and considering how far off it would still be (last generous estimate was 2020 but that’s extremely unlikely) would Johansson even want to be part of it?

Also, this part deserves repeating: “naming a writer is the closest the studio has come to moving forward on a standalone pic.” They’ve never been committed. It’s probably just a coincidence this news leaked soon after the latest Red Sparrow trailer starring Jennifer Lawrence, right? A film that just happens to look exactly like a Black Widow origin story. It feels like they’re trying to play catch-up if nothing else.

We don’t know where Avengers: Infinity War will leave the character (I’m betting at least two Avengers die) so who knows, maybe we’ll get really interested in the prospects of a Black Widow solo film again. But I doubt it. Don’t forget, with Fox Marvel properties about to come into the Disney fold, there are a lot more stories to be told.